Alcoa (NYSE:AA) Restarting Idled Potlines at 3 Smelters in U.S.

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced on Friday it is going to restart potlines at 3 aluminum smelters based in the U.S.

The company said the potlines to be restarted are at the Massena East facility in Massena, N.Y.; Wenatchee Works in Malaga, Washington; and Intalco in Ferndale, Washington.

Alcoa's initiative will add close to 260 jobs through hiring and recall, they said in a statement.

After the restarts are in place, it is expected to increase aluminum production by 137,000 metric tons throughout 2011 and by and additional 200,000 metric tons annually after that.

The reason for the restarts are to meet obligations Alcoa has to power companies over the long term and in response to expected increases in aluminum demand.

According to the company statement, they still have 674,000 metric tons of idle factory capacity.

Alcoa closed Friday at $16.42, gaining $0.06, or 0.37 percent.